Bleep! Bleep! Bleep!

Before I can even stop it my arm goes flying until I practically pound my alarm clock in submission. I get up and look around. I can hear my dad and stupid step-mom arguing again.

"Uggh."

I fall backwards back into my bed, which feels so much more comfortable in the morning. After about twenty more minutes I get up and start getting ready. I undress and look in my closet for an outfit for today. They all seem the same to me. Black, black, dark grey, black, navy blue, black, light black, dark grey, black. I just randomly grab something and throw it on. I see the time and realize I don't have time to do my hair.

I slip out of my room and past my so-called parents out onto the drive way. I get in my car and for a second I forgot how to start it. God, ever since Beck and I broke up I've been having trouble doing everything. Get over it Jade. It's been like a week. Why am I even thinking about it?

I decide to just focus on the road until I get to school. I pull into the parking lot and I get out. Not many people are still in the Asphalt Café since class is starting soon. I ignore anyone who cowers away from me and has the courage to say hey.

How did I get this rep? Why? I don't like being this person. I especially don't like the things people say about me or think of me. But I pretend not to care.

I get into class two seconds before the bell. I can see the only open seat is next to Tori. For some reason, I don't completely dread having to sit next to her.

"Hi Jade." She says in her bright, cheery tone that she has every day. It's actually kind of cute. NO! You hate Tori. Do I? Yes, you do.

Am I arguing with myself again? I do that a lot.

"Hey Vega." I say in a droopy tone.

"Are you alright, Jade?"

"I'm fine." I snap at her.

The lesson wasn't very different from the others. Sikowitz rambled on about something, Cat made some stupid comment about her brother and a beached whale, and he called up Tori, Beck, and Eli to do an acting exercise. But today we had back-to-back classes with Sikowitz so during the second half I plopped in my headphones. Ah. Peace at last. Just me, my music, and nothing else. That is until…

"JADE!"

Sikowitz's scream nearly made me fall out of my seat, getting many snickers, but not Tori, who looked like she felt sorry for me. I ripped out my headphones.

"What?!"

"I need you to pay attention to my class."

I glare at him. He takes it as a personal challenge and glares back. He even knocks Sinjin out of his chair and takes it to sit down, all without breaking eye contact.

I'm impressed.

"Alright you have my attention."

"Good! As I was saying, the next play that will be put into production is, you didn't guess it, Romeo and Juliet!"

This intrigued me. My mom used to love watching that version of Romeo and Juliet with Leonardo Dicaprio. I liked it too, but I haven't watched it ever since she died. I still wanted to be in it though.

"The signup sheet will be posted on my door after class. But for now, drive by acting exercise; you're all stranded on an island you're trying to eat each other! GO!"

Unexpectedly, I was tackled by Tori. However, instead of trying to eat me she just stared at me and giggled. Looking at her like this, it made me regret all those times I was mean to her. She really was beautiful. Maybe I was just jealous.

Before she can react and grab her shoulders and reverse our position so I was now on top of her. It was my turn to grin. I leaned down with my mouth open. She looked scared, but to both of our surprises, I instead kissed her on the cheek.

The bell rings so I get up as fast as possible and go to the door. I pull out a pen and write my name on the very first line. Tori walks out next and as if nothing had just happens she asks "Can I borrow your pen?"

"Sure. Keep it."

I hand it to her and walk off. I guess if she's playing it cool I can to. Next I had a singing class and I had recently been paired with Robbie to write a song. Gag. I know he's good at guitar and all, but when it comes to lyrics he's worse than a rapper. Seriously though, how is rap music? Not the point. I consider ditching it and let Robbie suffer. Nah. I want a good grade and I will not tarnish my A+ because of Robbie.

I nearly collide with Andre at the door.

"Oop, sorry Jade. Didn't see you there." He held up his phone to emphasize the fact he was texting.

"It's fine. Just don't do it again."

"No problem. So who'd you get paired with to write a song?"

"Robbie."

"So what I'm hearing is, you do all the work and he just gets to play guitar in the background?"

"Correct. Who'd you get paired with?"

"Rebecca Burkowitz."

"Who's Rebecca Burkowitz?"

He shrugs and says "I didn't know she existed until yesterday."

We take our seats and the bell rings. Robbie walks in awkwardly a second later and the teacher doesn't notice him. He takes a seat behind me and the teacher tells us all to get started. I look over and see Tori and Cat talking about what kind of song they're going to write. I reluctantly turn around and face Robbie.

"So, what kind of song should we write?"

"We?"

"Uh, yeah. We are partners you know."

"Oh please. I'm writing the song."

"Fine. What kind of song are you going to write about?"

"I don't know. Give some ideas. We're supposed to be partners."

The look on his face is priceless. As he starts babbling on I look over at Tori and she sees me and grins. I can still see a little bit of my lipstick on her cheek.